Third Person's POV
"Mmm! Mmm—!" Melinda was still struggling and shouting, but it was all in vain.
Cliff stood where he was, his gaze fixed on her lower abdomen. The life that had once given him a moment of hope now only felt like a cruel joke.
His pupils slowly contracted, the amber fading away and returning to a deep, inky black, but the chill radiating from him did not diminish in the slightest.
"Daughter! Daughter, save me! Save me!"
Belinda was even more terrified, but in the next second, her mouth was also gagged.
As she was dragged away, her gaze swept over Cliff's hands. Between his fingers, there still seemed to be a lingering silver shadow of wolf claws, frightening her so much she nearly fainted.
In the basement, the Beta hesitated and said, "Alpha Cliff, if Veronica finds out about this..."
As he spoke, he instinctively took half a step back. The oppressive aura still emanating from Cliff made it hard for this Beta to breathe.
"Keep this a secret. No one is to leak the news." Cliff's voice had returned to calm, but the cold scent of his pheromones still lingered in the air, like a thin layer of ice covering everyone's skin.
"I'm afraid it won't stay hidden for long."
Veronica cared deeply about the next generation of the wolf pack. Now that a woman had finally become pregnant with Alpha Cliff's child, she would never give up so easily.
There was worry in the Beta's voice. He could already imagine Veronica's fury, as fierce as a mother wolf protecting her cubs, once she learned the news.
Cliff had no interest in thinking about any of this. He said indifferently, "Go get the car ready. I'm going to the Dalton family."
As he turned, a flash of silver swept across his wrist beneath his sleeve—a mark left from his hand's recent shift that had yet to fully fade.
"...Yes." The Beta responded and withdrew. Only after leaving the basement did he dare to take deep breaths of fresh air.
The oppressive force just now, which had nearly frozen his lungs, was truly terrifying.
Outside, the news had already exploded. The story of Vanya's miraculous escape was trending all over the internet.
In the Dalton family home, Mirabel's face was grim as she angrily threw the newspaper aside. "That Vanya! Why fake her death for no reason? If she wasn't dead, couldn't she have just said so? Isn't this just playing with people?"
The newspaper landed right at the feet of a pair of red high heels.
Vanya curled her lips slightly. "Mirabel, who are you talking about?"
Hearing Vanya's voice, Mirabel looked as if she had seen a ghost and shot to her feet.
When she saw Vanya's face, she was even more startled. "Vanya..."
Vanya raised her eyebrows.
She was dressed in a wine-red evening gown, draped in white fur, looking especially exquisite.
"Mirabel, why do you look like you've seen a ghost when you see me? Aren't you happy to see me home?"
Mirabel forced a smile. "How could I not be? I'm more than happy that you've come back safe and sound."
Vanya sat casually on the sofa.
Mirabel sized her up. Seeing that she had only brought four bodyguards and no one else, she tentatively asked, "Did you come back alone?"
"Yes, otherwise, who else would you want to see, Mirabel?"
"And Alpha Cliff..." Mirabel knew about the news of Vanya filing for divorce.
Seeing the look of anticipation in her eyes, Vanya smiled. "I've already given Cliff the divorce papers. As for the Silvermoon Pack, I won't be going back."
At these words, the smile on Mirabel's face vanished instantly. "What? You're really going to get a divorce?"
"Of course. Cliff had an affair and even got the other woman pregnant. With a man like that, of course I have to divorce him. Aren't you happy for me, Mirabel?"
Seeing the smile on Vanya's face, Mirabel was so angry she nearly fainted. "Vanya! Are you out of your mind? Divorcing Cliff at a time like this—how does that benefit our Dalton family?"
Her voice was so loud that Aldrich upstairs heard and came down.
When he saw Vanya, he immediately ran over happily. "Vanya, I knew you'd be all right! Let me see, are you hurt anywhere?"
Seeing Aldrich, the smile on Vanya's face finally became a bit more genuine. "Aldrich."
Aldrich nodded, his eyes brimming with tears. After making sure she was unharmed, he cursed, "That Cliff is such a bastard!"
Vanya gently comforted him, "Aldrich, don't be angry. See, I'm not even upset."
Mirabel, standing to the side, said weakly, "It's normal for men to be a bit unfaithful. So he slept with another woman—Cliff treats her well enough. There's no need to make such a fuss and get divorced..."
Aldrich immediately flared up. "What are you saying? Vanya has suffered so much, and you say there's no need?"
"Honey, I'm only thinking of the Dalton family! What good does it do us to offend the Todd family?"
Mirabel glanced furtively at Vanya. "Besides, Vanya just sold the Dalton Group to M Group without a second thought, not caring about the family at all. Isn't she pushing us to the brink..."
"Shut up!" Aldrich was now completely fed up with her senseless words.
Vanya looked at Mirabel. "So it's because I merged the Dalton family with M Group that you're so upset."
She remembered that in her previous life, when the Dalton family was nearly bankrupted by Cliff's schemes, Mirabel, seeing there was no money left, immediately kicked Aldrich out and took all the family assets with her.
This time, her opposition to Vanya divorcing Cliff was probably because the Dalton Group had already merged with M Group, and if they offended Cliff as well, the family would be left with nothing.